Opening times

The Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre and the Egleton area of Rutland Water Nature Reserve is open daily throughout the year from 9am to 5pm. (4pm November – February). Closed all day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

View from Harrier Hide

The Lyndon Visitor Centre and Lyndon area of Rutland Water Nature Reserve is open every day during the summer (mid-March to early September) from 9am to 5pm. Over the winter months, however, the Centre will be closed.

The Lyndon Visitor Centre is signposted from Rutland Water South Shore, 1 mile east of the village of Manton. Lyndon is the best centre to see the Ospreys from.

The view from Lyndon Hill Visitor Centre

Parking, Permits and other information
A charge is made for access to the Nature Reserve with its 31 bird-watching hides. The price includes your car parking. Permits are purchased from the Visitor Centres and must be displayed in your car at all times. From November to March the Car Park is locked at 4pm – please ensure you do not leave you car in the car park or you may get locked in!

Day Permits – from April 1st 2016

10% OFF DAY PERMITS FOR LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND WILDLIFE TRUST MEMBERS

From November to March the Car Park is locked at 4 pm – please ensure you do not leave you car in the car park or you may get locked in! At all other times the car car will remain open until dusk.

Group Visits
We welcome Group Visits: and offer a discount for a party of 10 or more booked in advance. The price of group rate permits is £4.00. Please contact Becky our Community Engagement Officer on 01572 720049 or becky@rutlandwater.org.uk for more details or to book.
If you would like to book a guided walk or talk for your group as part of your visit please CLICK HERE for more details.Four Day Permit (to be used within 10 days of issue) £16.00

Annual Nature Reserve Permit

This is a very good buy for a family of up to 5 (2 adults and up to 3 children).
In conjunction with Anglian Water and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust we are able to offer a special rate of £65.00 per family for the year entitling you to as many visits as you like during the year without further charge and includes single membership to the Trust. The permit is only £37.00 per family if you are already a member of the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. (NB This pass does not give access to the Egleton area of the nature reserve during Birdfair weekend).

All the above rates give access to both the Egleton and Lyndon areas of the nature reserve.

Dogs (except guide dogs) are not permitted on the Egleton reserve under any circumstances. Dogs on leads are welcome at Lyndon

Additional Information

Disabled access: There is access for disabled visitors at the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre and 10 bird watching hides are adapted for those in wheelchairs. At Lyndon access is possible to Teal Hide and Swan Hide and the Visitor Centre.

Buggy: An electric buggy is available for hire at both Egleton and Lyndon (please ring to check availability – advanced booking is essential).

Toilets: There are toilets with disabled facilities at both Centres

Dogs: to safeguard wildlife, grazing sheep and cattle, dogs are not allowed on the Egleton area of the nature reserve. At Lyndon, dogs are allowed, but they must be kept on a lead at all times.

Refreshments: Both the Egleton and Lyndon visitor centres have a hot drinks machine, cold drinks and snacks available. Please note there is no café on the nature reserve, but there are several close by